This is page numbers 1621 – 1660 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was communities.

Topics

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of midwifery care. The petition contains 27 signatures of Yellowknife residents.

The petitioners request that the Government of the Northwest Territories commit to expanding the Midwifery Program to other communities in the NWT beyond Fort Smith for fiscal year 2013-14, by identifying the selected communities and committing to the continuity of this expansion with annual core funding. Further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories ensure that women feel confident and secure to stay in their communities during the normal and healthy process of pregnancy and birth, by developing an education plan on the roles and benefits of midwifery that will be delivered to all women and families in the NWT beginning in the fiscal year 2013-14. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures would like to present a Report on the Use of Tablet Computers in Formal Session of the Legislative Assembly.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

In its February 8, 2012, Report on the Use of Tablet Computers in the Legislative Assembly, the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommended that:

Tablet computers such as iPads be considered as a type of laptop computer/hand-held device, subject to the existing conventions in the House regarding electronic communications devices.

This recommendation was adopted by a motion of the Committee of the Whole. As a result, it is currently the convention that iPads, like laptops, BlackBerries and other hand-held electronic communications devices may be used during Committee of the Whole proceedings, subject to the restrictions that they must be turned off when a Member has the floor and must be on silent mode at all times.

The committee also indicated in its February 2012 report that it would continue to review the expansion of iPad use outside of Committee of the Whole.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

iPads were introduced as a standard tool for briefing materials and Cabinet and committee meeting agenda packages at the outset of the 17th Assembly, in place of paper versions of the same documents. As noted earlier in this report, in February 2012 the House agreed to permit iPad use in the Chamber during Committee of the Whole proceedings.

The use of iPads for these purposes has allowed for a substantial reduction in the amount of paper used by Members and staff. It also increased convenience and ease of retrieving information as documents equivalent to several binders of paper can be stored on one device.

In considering whether the use of iPads should be permitted in formal session as well as Committee of the Whole proceedings, the committee held in mind a number of factors in addition to the advantages of increased convenience and reduced paper consumption.

iPads could present a distraction during debate.

The use of iPads, if not discreet, could create a

negative impression among members of the public viewing the proceedings.

The increased ease of sending messages in

and out of the Chamber might allow others to influence debate.

Attempts to restrict certain uses of iPads might

be difficult to enforce and would rely largely on Members’ voluntary compliance.

iPads, when used as visual readers, are not

functionally different than paper documents, which Members are permitted to use and refer to during formal session.

The committee also reviewed practices in other jurisdictions. These practices are rapidly evolving as use of iPads and other tablet devices become more widespread.

Both Houses of the Parliament of Canada, the United Kingdom House of Commons and the Legislative Assembly in Saskatchewan allow use of iPads in formal session subject only to general restrictions that they be in silent mode and not be disruptive or interfere with decorum. Most other Canadian Legislatures also allow for some use of iPads during formal session, albeit subject to additional restrictions. Examples of restrictions in place in other jurisdictions include prohibiting their use by a Member who has the floor, prohibiting their use during certain proceedings such as votes, question period and/or Speaker’s rulings, and allowing the use of iPads during question period as a virtual reading device only.

In the opinion of the committee, the advantages of allowing use of iPads in formal session outweigh the potential disadvantages. Further, the concerns about the detrimental effects iPads might have on formal proceedings can be mitigated by putting in place certain restrictions. The committee, therefore, makes the following recommendation:

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Members be permitted to use tablet computers during all proceedings in the Chamber with the exception of the following times: during the prayer, at any time when the Commissioner is present in the Chamber, during the Speaker’s opening and closing remarks and rulings, during votes, and at any other time designated pursuant to instruction of the Speaker;

And further, that the use of tablet computers be subject to the existing convention that any electronic device used in the Chamber must be in silent mode at all times.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the use of tablet computers during formal session be at all times subject to the overriding discretion of the Speaker to intervene to ensure order and decorum in the Chamber, and that if the use of any tablet computer is deemed to impinge on the decorum or dignity of the House, the Speaker may order the offending Member to discontinue use of the device.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that any necessary amendments to the rules of the Legislative Assembly to permit the use of tablet computers in formal session be brought forward for consideration of the Legislative Assembly in the February-March 2013 sitting of the Legislative Assembly;

And further, that guidelines governing the use of tablet computers be incorporated into an appendix to the rules of the Legislative Assembly to be entitled, “Direction Regarding the Use of Electronic Communication Devices in the Chamber;”

And furthermore, that pending changes to the rules of the Legislative Assembly, the recommendations in this report be treated as conventions and Members be permitted to use tablet computers in accordance with them.

Finally, the committee urges all Members to continue to exercise courtesy and good judgment in using electronic devices in the Chamber so as not to distract fellow Members or in any way detract from the proceedings underway.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That concludes the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Use of Tablet Computers in Formal Session of the Legislative Assembly.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Committee Report 7-17(3) be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley.

---Carried

Committee Report 7-17(3) is received and moved to Committee of the Whole. Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and move Committee Report 7-17(3) into Committee of the Whole today.

---Unanimous consent granted

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Committee Report 7-17(3) is moved into Committee of the Whole for today. Thank you, Mr. Bromley.

Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents, entitled NWT Power Corporation 2012 Annual Report, NWT Hydro Corporation 2012 Annual Report, and List of Interactivity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 for the Period of April 1, 2012, to September 30, 2012. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Premier

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled Status of Women Council of the Northwest Territories Annual Report, 2011-2012. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following three documents, entitled Health and Health-Related Behaviours Among Young People in the Northwest Territories, the NWT Student Financial Assistance Program Review and Final Review Report as of March 2012, Management Response to the Student Financial Assistance Review, Final Report. Finally, further to my Return to Written Question 10-17(3), I wish to table the following document, entitled 2012-2013, ASA Funding Distribution. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents, entitled 2012-2012 Grants and Contributions Results Report and Government of the Northwest Territories Contracts over $5,000 Report Year to Date of the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2012. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Colleagues, pursuant to Section 5 of the Legislative

Assembly and Executive Council Act, I wish to table the Summary of Members’ Absences for the Period of May 23, 2012, to October 16, 2012.

Colleagues, I hereby table 2011-2012 Annual Report of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to table a report called The Oil-Fired Appliances Working Group, Action Plan and Recommendations 2012 Yukon Government.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to table a letter that was addressed to Minister Duncan, Minister Ashfield and Minister Peter Kent from the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board in regard to the proposed change to the federal Fisheries Act.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. WHEREAS the Government of Canada has enacted major revisions to a number of environmental protection laws, including the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Fisheries Act, the Navigable Waters Act and the Species at Risk Act, through its first omnibus budget implementation bill, Bill C-38, and is proposing further revisions under Bill C-45, which is currently before Parliament.

AND WHEREAS a vigorous environmental management regime is essential for the protection of our vulnerable northern ecosystems, for citizens’ participation in the management of our natural heritage, and for protection of Aboriginal rights and fulfilment of the constitutional duties to consult with Aboriginal peoples;

AND WHEREAS the impact of federal dismantling of environmental protections will be more acute in the Northwest Territories than in the provinces,

owing to the continuing federal responsibility for management of natural resources;

AND WHEREAS Bill C-38’s substantial weakening of the federal Fisheries Act protections for fish and fish habitat is a retrogressive measure that will eliminate the ability to adequately protect vital food fisheries and ensure protection of waters, and will undermine the exercise of Aboriginal harvesting rights;

AND WHEREAS the introduction of arbitrary deadlines for the completion of environmental assessments, of restrictions on the types of projects that may be referred to environmental assessment, and of new restrictions on citizen involvement in environmental assessments will limit the quality of or eliminate necessary public review of environmental impacts;

AND WHEREAS Bill C-38 removed the requirements of the Navigable Waters Act for reviews of pipeline and power line projects, and proposed changes to the Navigable Waters Act in Bill C-45 would remove the requirement for reviews of projects including dams, road crossings, mines and bridges affecting all but two lakes and one river in the Northwest Territories, thus removing protection even from heritage rivers;

AND WHEREAS pipeline and oil and gas projects will no longer be referred to independent panels, but will be assessed in house by the National Energy Board, and offshore projects will no longer be assessed unless designated for assessment by the federal Cabinet, thus limiting comprehensive, publicly accountable scrutiny of the potentially major environmental and socio-economic impacts;

AND WHEREAS changes to the federal Species at Risk Act have ended the application of the act to pipeline projects, and will allow for the issuance of open-ended permits for projects that affect species at risk and/or their habitat;

AND WHEREAS the terms of the Devolution Agreement-in-Principle require that the GNWT take over this weakened and inadequate federal environmental and resource management regime;

AND WHEREAS the only means for the GNWT to improve this weakened and inadequate regime would be to allocate GNWT revenues over and above the federal funding provided for in the Devolution Agreement;

AND WHEREAS the GNWT was not consulted or even informed in advance of these changes to laws that are critically important to the citizens of the NWT and are a central issue in the ongoing devolution negotiations;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that the Government of the Northwest Territories inform the federal government of our dissatisfaction both with the

dismantling of the federal environmental protection regime and with the federal government’s failure to consult and inform this government on changes directly affecting our interests, the ensured integrity of our environment and the content of devolution negotiations that are currently underway.

AND FURTHER, that the Government of the Northwest Territories immediately begin to determine the cost of repairing and maintaining the environmental management regime post-devolution in order to restore it to the responsible standards expected by our public.

AND FURTHER, that the Government of the Northwest Territories begin to identify the means through which such costs could be funded.

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days. Mahsi.